Israel's ultra-Orthodox suddenly are outsiders

FILE - In this Monday, Oct. 1, 2012 file photo, Ultra Orthodox Jews dance as they celebrate the holiday of Sukkot at a yeshiva in the Ultra Orthodox Jewish neighborhood of Mea Shearim in Jerusalem. As Israel's new government takes shape, powerful ultra-Orthodox Jewish political parties seem poised to find themselves in unfamiliar territory, the opposition. A pair of rising political superstars want to end a system in which the ultra-Orthodox used their political clout to win generous government
— AP

FILE - In this Monday, Oct. 1, 2012 file photo, Ultra Orthodox Jews dance as they celebrate the holiday of Sukkot at a yeshiva in the Ultra Orthodox Jewish neighborhood of Mea Shearim in Jerusalem. As Israel's new government takes shape, powerful ultra-Orthodox Jewish political parties seem poised to find themselves in unfamiliar territory, the opposition. A pair of rising political superstars want to end a system in which the ultra-Orthodox used their political clout to win generous government
/ AP

FILE - In this Wednesday, March 14, 2012 file photo, Ultra Orthodox Jews attend the funeral of Rabbi Moshe Yehoshua Hager, leader of the hassidic sect Vizhnitz in Israel, in Bnei Brak, Ultra Orthodox Jewish town near Tel Aviv, Israel. As Israel's new government takes shape, powerful ultra-Orthodox Jewish political parties seem poised to find themselves in unfamiliar territory, the opposition. A pair of rising political superstars want to end a system in which the ultra-Orthodox used their politi— AP

FILE - In this Wednesday, March 14, 2012 file photo, Ultra Orthodox Jews attend the funeral of Rabbi Moshe Yehoshua Hager, leader of the hassidic sect Vizhnitz in Israel, in Bnei Brak, Ultra Orthodox Jewish town near Tel Aviv, Israel. As Israel's new government takes shape, powerful ultra-Orthodox Jewish political parties seem poised to find themselves in unfamiliar territory, the opposition. A pair of rising political superstars want to end a system in which the ultra-Orthodox used their politi
/ AP

FILE - In this Wednesday, March 14, 2012 file photo, Ultra Orthodox Jews attend the funeral of Rabbi Moshe Yehoshua Hager, leader of the hassidic sect Vizhnitz in Israel, in Bnei Brak , Ultra Orthodox Jewish town near Tel Aviv, Israel. As Israel's new government takes shape, powerful ultra-Orthodox Jewish political parties seem poised to find themselves in unfamiliar territory, the opposition. A pair of rising political superstars want to end a system in which the ultra-Orthodox used their polit— AP

FILE - In this Wednesday, March 14, 2012 file photo, Ultra Orthodox Jews attend the funeral of Rabbi Moshe Yehoshua Hager, leader of the hassidic sect Vizhnitz in Israel, in Bnei Brak , Ultra Orthodox Jewish town near Tel Aviv, Israel. As Israel's new government takes shape, powerful ultra-Orthodox Jewish political parties seem poised to find themselves in unfamiliar territory, the opposition. A pair of rising political superstars want to end a system in which the ultra-Orthodox used their polit
/ AP

FILE - In this Monday, Oct. 1, 2012 file photo, Ultra Orthodox Jews dance as they celebrate the holiday of Sukkot at a yeshiva in the Ultra Orthodox Jewish neighborhood of Mea Shearim in Jerusalem. As Israel's new government takes shape, powerful ultra-Orthodox Jewish political parties seem poised to find themselves in unfamiliar territory, the opposition. A pair of rising political superstars want to end a system in which the ultra-Orthodox used their political clout to win generous government — AP

FILE - In this Monday, Oct. 1, 2012 file photo, Ultra Orthodox Jews dance as they celebrate the holiday of Sukkot at a yeshiva in the Ultra Orthodox Jewish neighborhood of Mea Shearim in Jerusalem. As Israel's new government takes shape, powerful ultra-Orthodox Jewish political parties seem poised to find themselves in unfamiliar territory, the opposition. A pair of rising political superstars want to end a system in which the ultra-Orthodox used their political clout to win generous government
/ AP

JERUSALEM 
As Israel's new government takes shape, the country's powerful ultra-Orthodox Jewish political parties seem poised to find themselves in unfamiliar territory - the parliamentary opposition - instead of their traditional seats around the Cabinet table.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's two new potential partners pledge to end a system in which the ultra-Orthodox have used political clout to win generous government subsidies, evade compulsory military service and attempt to impose their conservative social mores.

Nothing is certain yet. Netanyahu is still negotiating, and he has not yet signed coalition agreements with the two main parties - the centrist Yesh Atid and hawkish Jewish Home.

If his new government excludes the ultra-Orthodox parties, it could reshape the face of Israel, which has experienced growing strife in recent years between the fast-growing ultra-Orthodox community and the general public.

Ultra-Orthodox party leaders are vowing to put up a fight.

"This is a passing trend," Meshulam Nahari, an outgoing Cabinet minister from the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, told The Associated Press. "People understand the value of studying the Torah and we will not be abandoned. Those who will cut funding have no right to be a part of the Jewish state."

The ultra-Orthodox make up about 10 percent of Israel's 8 million citizens. Because of Israel's coalition government system, they have traditionally wielded influence well beyond their numbers by ensuring a parliamentary majority for a string of prime ministers.

In recent decades, ultra-Orthodox parties have used this kingmaker status to secure vast budgets for their religious schools and seminaries that teach students about Judaism but very little math, English or science. Tens of thousands of young ultra-Orthodox males are granted exemptions from military service in order to pursue their religious studies, and older men collect welfare stipends while continuing to study full time.

The system has led to high rates of unemployment and poverty in the ultra-Orthodox community. It also has bred widespread resentment among the secular and modern Orthodox publics, and it became the central issue in January parliamentary elections.

Yesh Atid and the modern Orthodox Jewish Home surged in popularity by promising to change the system and "ease the burden" on middle class Israelis who serve in the military, work and pay taxes. Yesh Atid won 19 seats, making it the second-largest faction in the 120-seat parliament, while Jewish Home holds 12 seats.

Yesh Atid's leader, Yair Lapid, and Naftali Bennett of the Jewish Home have forced Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to promise the ultra-Orthodox will not be in the new coalition.

Both leaders insist on reforming the country's military draft regulations and on pushing members of the cloistered ultra-Orthodox society into the workforce and away from a life of state handouts.

Lapid, whose parliamentary faction includes two modern Orthodox rabbis, has said he does not oppose religion or the religious. Instead, he says all healthy adults should work, and that it is not the government's responsibility to subsidize full-time religious study. Modern Orthodox Jews follow the commandments of the religion while taking part in Israel's general society, working and serving in the military.